Strip feeding apparatus



Aug. 18, 1953 A A. w. METZNER A 2,649,180

STRIP FEEDING APPARATUS.

Filed Oct. 20, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR A. W METZ/Vt'l? Aug. 18, 1953 A. w. METZNER 2,649,180

STRIP FEEDING APPARATUS Filed 001?. 20, 1950 A 2 ShBQtE-Shflet .2

INVENTOR A. W METZ/VER v myw Patented Aug. 18, 1953 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE STRIP FEEDING APPARATUS Albert W. Metzner, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to The Standard Register Company, Dayton, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio This invention relates to strip feeding apparatus, and more particularly to a positive pin type feeding apparatus for advancing a strip of recorded material about a platen roll in a typewriter or like machine.

Pin feed devices in such machines have heretofore been known but in a form requiring the use of a special platen or of modified carriage arrangements.

The instant invention contemplates the avoidance of these disadvantages having as one object thereof pin feeding from the outer surface of a standard typewriter or writing machine platen.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pin feed mechanism which can be applied to any conventional platen without the necessity of altering or substituting parts in the machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide for longitudinal adjustment of the pin feed devices along the platen so that they may be shifted out of position to the end of the platen, or removed from the platen, or relocated in correspondence with various width record strips.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for projecting the feeding pins relative to the platen roll in a localized area for feedingengagement with an overlying record strip.

A still further object of the invention is to permit circumferential adjustment of the area in which the pins extend from the platen to thereby provide an inoperative position in which the pins are unable to engage and feed the strip, and vice versa.

A further object of the invention is to provide a strip feeding apparatus embodying the advantageous structural features and inherent meritorious characteristics and mode of operation herein described.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in View as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention intended to be protected by Letters Patent consists of the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation, as hereinafter described or illustrated in the accompanying drawings, or their equivalents.

In the drawings wherein is illustrated the preferred but not necessarily the only form of embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a typewriter with the feed devices of the present invention installed thereon;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged view, in perspective, of the platen and feed device thereon, with the device feeding the record strip;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 with the record strip removed;

Fig. 4 is a view in front elevation of a platen equipped with the feed devices of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a view in cross section taken substantially along the line 55 of Fig. 4

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, showing the feed device adjusted to inoperative position;

Fig. 7 is a view in cross section taken substantially along the line 'l'! of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a detail view in longitudinal section, taken substantially along the line 88 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged view in cross section, taken substantially along the line 9-9 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail View, similar to Fig. 7, showing the manner of locking the pin feed devices to the platen;

Fig. 11 is a detail View in front elevation of a cam ring comprised in the pin feed device; and

Fig. 12 is a detail view, in perspective, of a pin and crank rod therefor comprised in the pin feed mechanism.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, the invention is disclosed as applied to a typewriter I5 (Fig. 1) presenting a platen it about which continuous record material I! is fed circumferentially, the record material having marginal perforations I 8 for accurate feeding and aligning thereof. The platen I6 is supported for rotary motion by side plates is, extensions of which support cross rods 2|, 22 and 23 for guiding the record strip to and from the platen.

In such a machine as conventionally constructed and arranged, the instant invention proposes the installation of adjustable and demountable pin feed devices on the platen engageable with the perforations it to advance the record material in response to rotation of the platen. There is a pair of such feed devices, one adjacent each end of the platen and since they are identical a description of one will suffice for both.

Each comprises a basic or underlying cylindri cal band 24 (see Fig. 9) which has a snug fit upon the rubber or rubber-like outer sleeve of the platen, the band being slidable, however, longitudinally of the platen. The outer edge of the band 24 is overlaid by a relatively narrow loop 25 having a pair of diametrically opposed spring arms 25, the outer ends of the arm being formed as hooks arranged to pass through suitable holes in the band 2 3 and be anchored in the platen Hi. When so anchored, the spring arms 26 prevent motion of the band 2% and loop 25 with the marginal punchings in the record material in response to rotation of the platen.

4. In a typewriter or like device wherein perforate record material is fed circumferentially over a rotatable platen, a pin feed device for the material including a band releasably attached to the platen for rotation therewith, pins carried by said band for engaging and feeding the record material, and a cam in peripheral surrounding relation to the platen and cooperable with the pins to effect an engageable and disengageable relation of the pins with respect to the record material in a predetermined phase relationship to the rotation of the platen.

5. A typewriter or like device, according to claim 4, characterized in that said cam is adjustable to vary the described phase relationship.

6. In a typewriter or like device wherein perforate record material is fed circumferentially over a rotatable platen, a pin feed device including a band releasably attached to the platen for rotation therewith, pins carried by said band in circumferentially spaced relation for motion into and out of a projecting position wherein they are engageable with the record material, and a cam externally of the platen cooperative with said pins to move said pins sequentially into and out of said projecting position in response to rotation of the platen and in a timed relation thereto.

7. In a typewriter or like device wherein perforate record material is fed circumferentially over a rotatable platen, a pin feed device including a band releasably attached to the periphery of the platen for rotation therewith, circumferentially spaced pins carried by said band for swinging motion between an inactive position substantially parallel to the periphery of the band and an active position substantially perpendicular to the band, a cam ring surrounding the platen and fixed relative thereto, and interengaging portions on said pins and cam ring for moving said pins in predetermined phase relationship to the rotation of the platen.

8. In a strip feed apparatus, a cylindrical band for installation on a typewriter platen or like rotatable feed shaft, circumferentially spaced pins carried by said band for pivotal motion to and from a projecting substantially perpendicular position with respect to the band, a relatively stationary cam ring in side-by-side relation to said band, and interengagin portions on said pins and cam ring for moving said pins in a timed relation to the movement of the platen.

9. A strip feed apparatus, according to claim 8, characterized by means for rotatively adjusting said cam ring to vary the position circumferentially of the platen wherein said pins reach perpendicular position.

10. In a pin feed device, a cylindrical band to be slidably mounted on a typewriter platen or the like, means for releasably securing said band to the platen, pins carried by said band for pivotal motion to and from a projecting substantially perpendicular position with respect to the band, a cam ring to be rotatably mounted on said platen in a side-by-side relation to said band, said cam ring presenting a slot which is concentric with the band over a part of its circumference and eccentric over another part, relatively fixed abutment means to hold said cam ring against rotation with the platen, and a plurality of adjustment connections between said cam ring and said abutment means whereby the eccentric portion of said cam slot may be shifted to a plurality of circumferential positions about the platen.

In a typewriter or like device utilizing a rubber or rubber-like platen, a pin feed device including a band having a relatively snug fit on the platen but movable lengthwise thereof, feed pins carried by said band for rocking motion between retracted and projected positions, a cam mounted on said band and engageable with said pins to control the movement of said feed pins, and a pronged device carried by said band to be anchored in the material of the platen for holdin the pin feed device in a selected position of adjustment on the platen.

12. A typewriter or like device, including a platen, a pin feed device on said platen including a band in surrounding relation to the platen and infinitely adjustable along the length of the platen, means for anchoring said band relatively to said platen in selected positions of adjustment, oscillatory feed pins carried by said band, a cam associated with said band for unison 1ongitudinal and relative rotary motions, said feed pins engaging said cam and rocking under the control thereof in response to relative rotary motion between said band. and said cam, and means for holding said cam from rotating with said platen.

13. A typewriter or like device accordin to claim 12, characterized in that said last named means includes mechanism for setting said cam to varying rotary positions of adjustments whereby to vary the oscillatory action of the feed pins with respect to the phase rotation of the platen.

ALBERT W. METZNER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,180,466 Barker Apr. 25, 1916 1,884,760 Lake Oct. 25, 1932 2,400,226 Euth May 14, 1946 

